Art Dealing as the Socioeconomic Phenomenon: Foreign Experience

Abstract

The most common association, arising from the art market and its operations is the auction transactions. Thus, alternative trading platforms — various galleries and salons, known under the general name of art dealers — have successfully been operating for a long time. A comprehensive study of this group of market agents is presented in the article for the fi rst time within the national science. Based on the works of foreign scientists describing the international art market, the primary principles of galleries and salons activity, such as taboo on lowering the peace of art price and the dictatorship of the master’s
reputation, are distinguished. A detailed analysis of various strategies for promoting “cultural” goods practiced by foreign dealers becomes a real basis for application by Russian art market agents. Additionally, this article attempts to establish evidential answers for specifi c questions of art market players, such as what kind of object is more expensive — big or small; what kind of author is more expensive — man or woman, etc. Finally, a direct comparison of pricing processes taking place in galleries and at auctions is made, for the purpose of critical conclusion — whether so wide demand for auctions is fair. Refs 25.

Keywords:

art market, works of art, pricing, dealers, auctions